Beet harvester



May 17, 1949. v. BOZEMAN, s EAL 2,470,211

BEET HARVESTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 7, 1944 INVENTORS VIRGIL F. BOZEMAN SFLCLAUDEWWALZ.

ROBERT D.GR FF, HOWARD F. CLAUSEN ATTORNEYS May 17, 1949. v. F. BOZEMAN, sR., EI'AL 2,470,211

BEET HARVESTER Filed Oct. 7, 1944 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 5R, CLAUDE WLWALZ, HOWARD F. CLAUSEN TORNE S May 17, 1949. v. F. BOZEMAN, SR., ETAL 2,470,211

BEET HARVESTER Filed Oct. 7, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TORS VIRGIL E BOZEMAN SRCLAUDE W. WALZ, ROBERT G IFF, HOWARD F. CtAUSEN 7 ATTORNEYS Patented May 17, 1949 S PATENT OFFICE nnn'r minvss'ma virgin F. Bozeman, sr., Moline, Claude w. Walz and Robert D. Griff, Rock Island, and Howard F. Clausen, Moline, 11]., assignors to Deere &

UNITED STATE 12 Claims. 1

The present invention relates generally to agricultural machines, particularly to harvesters or combines especially adapted to handle and clean root crops.

The object and general nature of the present 5 l4 and I5, is delivered to the drive wheels 2. invention is the provision of a new and useful Between the differential II and the motor I2 is harvester for sugar beets and similar root crops, a gear changecase and clutch unit l1, controlled especially designed to top and lift the beets from by a gear shift lever l8 and a clutch shaft [9. the ground, clean them of adhering soil, auto- A propeller shaft 2| connects the transmission matically eliminate from the machine any clods 10 unit "with the pinion of the differential unit or the like that would otherwise tend to pass ll. It is to be noted that the motor I2 and through the machine with the beets, and lastly, associated parts are mounted well toward the to elevate the beets into a truck, wagon, or other left side of the machine, and the reason for means for direct delivery to the sugar beet mill. this particular arrangement will appear later.

More particularly, it is an important feature An operator's station 25 is carried by the main of the present invention to provide a self-proframe I, as through suitable supports 26, and by pelled machine of this type, which eliminates means of a steering wheel 21 mounted adjacent separate lifting and hand topping operations for the operators station 25 and connected through opening up the land. Further, it is a feature of steering mechanism 29 with the front steering this invention to provide a mobile beet harvester wheels 3, the machine may be guided. The with a cleaning unit thereon arranged to remove front end of the steering link 29 is connected clods and the like from the beets coming over through an arm 3| with one of the spindles 32 from the lifting and topping mechanism. Adwhich carry the front steering wheels 3. A drag ditionally, it is a feature of this invention to link 34 connects the two steering arms 35 of the provide means especially adapted to by-pass the front steering wheels 3. The front end of the cleaning unit when soil and/or other conditions machine is supported on a front axle 31 for are such that the beets coming from the lifting movement relative thereto about a longitudinal and topping mechanism are sufficiently clean axis. To-this end, connected between a cross and free of clods and adhering soil that further bar 4| of the frame I and a front cross bar 42, cleaning is unnecessary. is a pair of longitudinal frame bars 43 through These and other objects and advantages of which a pair of fore and-aft spaced depending the present invention will be apparent to those brackets 45 are fixed (Figures 1 and 2). These skilled in the art after a consideration of the brackets 45 receive trunnions 46 that are carfollowing detailed description of the preferred ried by the central portion of the front axle 31 construction,' illustrated in the accompanying and are rockable in the brackets. Thus, pasdrawings. sage of the machine over irregular terrain does In the drawings: not impose any unnecessary strains or cause ob- Figure 1 is a plan view of a self-propelled beet jectionable distortion of the frame I. Preferharvester or combine in which the principles of ably, sleeves 41 are fixed to the ends of the front the present invention have been incorporated. axle 31 to receive the front wheel spindles 32.

Figure 2 is a side view of the machine shown Carried by the front portion of the main frame in Figure 1. I is topping and lifting mechanism indicated in Figure 3 is a rear view of the machine shown its entirety by the reference numeral 50, conin Figures 1 and 2. sisting essentially of a topping unit 48 and a beet Figure 4 is a partial sectional view taken along lifting or pulling unit 49. The topping unit 48 the line 4-4 of Figure 3- and showing the foris quite similar to the topping mechanism shown ward chain of the clod separator unit and the in the co-pending application, Serial No. 485,527, beet spiking chain. filed May 3, 1943, for Beet harvester, by Claude Referring first to Figure 1, the beet harvester W. Walz, Clarence T. Rasmussen and Howard of the present invention comprises a main frame F. Clausen, now Patent 2,433,799 to which refer- I supported for movement on a pair of rear drive 50 once may be made if necessary. Briefly, the topwheels 2 and a pair of front steering wheels 3. ping unit 48 includes two setsof fore and aft The drive wheels 2 are supported at the lower extending topping unit frame bars 5| and 52 conportions of a pair of drive housings 5 upon nected together at their front ends by a transwhich side bars 6 and I, forming a part of the verse angle bar or frame member 53 and other frame I, are supported. A drive axle 8 con- 55 transverse members as needed and forming, in

2 nects the upper ends of the drive housings 5 and includes a differential unit ll through which power from a motor l2 supported on the frame I, as by being mounted on a pair of cross bars 3 efiect, a sub-frame movably suspended under the mainframe I. By suitable rollers (not shown) a laterally shiftable top conveyor unit 55 is supported on the topping frame or sub-frame 5I'-'- 53 for transverse shifting movement relative thereto. The laterally shiftable top conveyor includes a laterally shiftable support 56 and a pair of endless chains 51 and 58 carrying flights 58 and operating over sprockets 6| at each end of the top conveyor unit 55. One set of sprockets is fixed to a drive shaft 62 which receives power from an actuating shaft 63 through a gear box 64. Also mounted on the topping frame 5I-58 is a pair of pick-up drums 68, each having top engaging fingers 68. The topping frame 5I-53 also carries a pair of pivoted topping knives 1I, each consisting of a generally U-shapedframe 12 carrying a forwardly curved topping knife 18 at its front end and pivoted, as at 14, at its rear end to depending brackets 15 forming a part of the topping frame. Pivoted to the front end of the topping frame is a driven finder unit 18 which through a pair of lever arms 18 and linkage 8I, acts to control the position of the associated topping knife 13. There are two topping knives 13 and two finder units 18. The two pick-up drums 68 are mounted, relative to the associated knives 13, so that the fingers 68 move rearwardly and upwardly away from the knife and are disposed on both sides of the associated knife arms 12. The fingers 68 sweep away the tops cut by the knives 13 and carry them upwardly and rearwardly, and then forwardly and over the drums from which they are removed by stripper plates 83 (Figure 1) and forced onto the platform 85 of the transverse conveyor 55.

The topping unit 48 is supported for movement generally in a vertical direction relative to the main frame I by means that may be adjusted from the operators station on the machine. As best shown in Figures 1 and 2, a pair of brackets BI is fixed to the front side of the angle 53 and forms means whereby generally horizontally extending pull links 92 may be connected between the topping frame and a front draft frame 94 carried by the main frame I. The front draft frame preferably consists of a pair of depending brackets 95 and a center depending bracket 96, the brackets receiving a transverse draft bar 98. A rockshaft IOI is mounted for rocking movement on the main frame and includes a pair of forwardly extending arms I02 which are connected by downwardly extending links N33 with the front end of the topping frame 5I--53, preferably through the brackets 9 I. Preferably, the rockshaft IIII- is supported for rock.-

ing movement in brackets I04 fixed to the frame angle. 4I. Centrally of the rockshaft IOI, an arm I06 is fixed to the shaft IN and receives one end of alift cylinder unit I01, the other end of which is anchored, as at I08, to a bracket fixed to an intermediate frame bar I08 that extends transversely of the machine and is fixed at its ends to intermediate longitudinal frame bars I II and H2. The forward ends of the longitudinal frame bars I II and H2 are fixed to the cross frame bar 4| and at their rear ends to the cross frame bar I5. When fluid under pressure, as will be described below, is directed into the cylinder unit I01, as through a hose II5, the arm I06 is swung rearwardly, which raises the lifting arms I02 and thus raises the front end of the topping unit. The rear end of the topping unit is lifted by means similar to that just described, namely,

by a link II1 connected at its lower end with the rear angle III of the topping unit frame 5I--53. The upper end of the link H1 is connected to an 1 arm H0 thatforms a part of a bell crank I'2I, the

other arm .I22 of which is formed as a sector I23 and is connected through a link I24 with the forward central arm I05 that is operated by the cylinder I01. The arm I22 is connected by a pivot I25 with the rear end of the link I24 and the front end of the link I24 is connected, by a pivot I21 with the upper end of the arm I06, as bestshown in Figure 2. v

The drive for the top conveyor and the pickup drums "will now be described. A sprocket I'3I (Figure 1) is fixed to the propeller shaft 2I rearwardly of the transmission unit.I1 and receives a driving chain I32 which at its other end is connected to a sprocket I33 which forms the driving part of a clutch unit I34. The latter includes a casing I35 enclosing a clutch mechanism controlled by' a lever I31, and a longitudinally extending shaft I38 extends through the casing I85. The front end of the shaft I38 enters a casing I4I and'carries one gear of a set of bevel gears by which a transverse shaft I42 is driven. The shaft I42 extends laterally outwardly of the casing I4! and carries a sprocket I43 over which a chain I44 is trained. The lower end of the chain I' 44 passes over one gear of a double sprocket gear, the other of which receives one end of a chain I46, the rear end of which passes over one sprocket of a double sprocket member fixed to a transverse shaft I48 mounted in suitable bearings on the rear end of the topping frame 5I53, II8. Another chain I5I extends forwardly from the last mentioned double sprocket and is trained around a sprocket I52 which forms a part of a reversing mechanism I55. The latter is arranged to drive the actuating shaft 63 either in one direction or the other and is controlled by a short lever I51 extending from the unit I55 and controlled by a rod I59 that extends to a point adjacent the operators station 25. According to the setting of the lever I51, the shaft 63 may be rotated in one direction or the other, and thus utilized for driving the top conveyor 59 in a direction to discharge the tops either at one side or the other side of the machine, as desired. Mechanism is also provided in the reversing unit I55 for controlling whether or not the shaft 63 will be actuated as a shaft to drive the top conveyor chains 51 and 58 or to shift the top conveying unit 55 bodily in one direction or the other of the tractor. Generally, the mechanism to this end is of the same construction as shown in the above-mentioned co-pending application and is controlled by a second lever I6I to which a rod I62 is connected and leads to a point adjacent the operators station 25. The left end of the shaft 8 on the topping frame carries a sprocket over which a chain I63 is trained, the front end of the chain I63 serving to drive a sprocket I64 fixed to a shaft I65 to which the two pick-up drums 68 are fixed in any suitable manner. The rear end of thetopping unit frame 5I, 52 is connected by a pair of links I66 which at their rear ends are pivoted to the shaft I48 and at their forward ends are pivoted on studs I61 carried by depending arms I15 fixed to the main frame bars 6 and 1. The links I66 are arranged to be parallel to the links 82. The double sprocket about which the lower end of the chain I44 and the forward end of the chain I46 are trained, is mounted on the stud I61 carried by the right hand arm I15. Thus, the topping unit'frame formed to receive pivot clamps I18 by which the shanks I19 of lifting plows I8I are pivotallyconnected with the upper and lower bails I18 and I11. The tools at the right side of the machine, as shown in Figure l, are mounted with their vot clamps extending rearwardly from the adjacent portions of the balls I18 and I11 while the pivot clamps f the left tools I8I are mounted forwardly of the transverse portions of the associated bails, thereby providing for one set of tools being disposed offset laterally and forwardly with respect to the other lifting tools. The bails I18 and I11 are connected so that the lifting plows I8l remain-in the same angular position with respect to the ground, moving into different parallel positions. .A link I83 is connected at its lower end to the central portion of the upper bail I18 and at its upper end is pivotally connected, as at I84, to one arm I85 of a bell crank I85 that is rockably mounted on the main frame of the machine. A link I88 is connected, as at I89, to the arm I88 and extends forwardly and is pivotally connected, as at I9I, to an adjusting hand lever I92 pivoted, as at I93, on the sector I23. Thus, the tools I8l may be raised and lowered with the topping unit whenever the cylinder I81 is actuated. However, by unlatching the hand lever I92, the position of the lifting tools I8| may be adjusted relative to the topping unit.

'points adjacent the rear ends of the beet liftingplows I8I. These elevators or conveyors, one Of which is somewhat longer than the other to accommodate the above-mentioned offset relation of the lifters, are adapted to be raised and lowered with the lifting plows by means of suitable connections (not shown) between the front ends of the conveyors and the lifting arm' I85. Each of the above-mentioned beet conveyors 28I and 202 includes a conveyor chain 204 trained over rear sprockets thatare mounted on a transverse shaft, the right end of whichex-tends into a bevel gear case 285'. The latter also receives the rear end of the drive shaft I38, and through bevel gears mounted within the case 285, the shaft carrying the conveyor sprockets is driven from the shaft I38. I

At the rear end a cleaning unit 2H! and a laterally swingable loading elevator or beet discharge elevator 2 are provided. An upwardly extending frame arch 2I3 is fixed at its lower end to the rear portions of the main side frame mem- 'bers 8 and 1 and is braced by forwardly extend-.

ing rods 2I4. As best shown in Figure 2, the rear portions of the main frame side members '8 and 1 are bent downwardly, as at 2I'8 and then extend rearw-ardly, as at 2". A laterally outwardly extending bar 22I is fixed at its inner end to the right portion of the vertical arch M3 and extends laterally outwardly therefrom. The frame member 22I is supported by a tension rod 225. The frame member '22I is also braced by a strut 224 which extends upwardly and diagonally from the lower rear portion of the frame. A cross bar 228 extends rearwardly from the mainbar22l and atitsrearendlsfixedtoa second diagonal bracing member 228. At its lower end the diagonal brace member 228 is fixed to the lower rear portion 2" of the right frame bur 1. Adjacent this point a rear cross member 228 extends transversely to the other side of the frame and thus connects the rear horizontal sections 2" of the main frame members 8 and 1.

"A second cross bar III is connected to the rear ends of the frame bars 8 and 1. As best shown in Figure 2, a shaft 288 is supported above the frame member 228 by suitable brackets or the like and serves to pivotally receive the upper end of a conveyor indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 231. The conveyor 231 includes an endless chain similar to a potato chain, indicated by the reference numeral 288, trained over sprockets on the shaft 285 at the upper end of the conveyor and at the lower end of the conveyor the chain 238 is trained over suitable idler sprockets. The conveyor unit 231 includes suitable side bars 239 and 2 (Figure 1) connected together at their lower ends by a cross bar 242. This end of the conveyor 231 may be raised and lowered, as will be explained in detail below. Normally, the lower end of the conveyor 231 is disposed well below the discharge ends of the two beet conveyors 28I' and 282. A sprocket on the front end of the shaft 235 receives a; chain which extends downwardly and laterally outwardly and is trained over a sprocket fixed to the front end of a shaft 248 which is mounted for rotation in brackets 241 fixed to the frame bars 225 and 228. A second sprocket 248 'is fixed to the shaft 248 and receives a chain 249 that extends downwardly and laterally inwardly, being trained around a sprocket 25I fixed to a shaft 252 that is carried in a pair 'of brackets 253 and 253' suitably fixed to the main frame.

A sprocket 254 on the front end of the shaft 252 receives a chain 255. A sprocket 288 on the rear end" of the shaft I38 provides for delivery of power to the conveyor chain 238and, through the rear portion of the shaft 248, to the clean ing unit 2I8 which will now be described.

The cleaning unit 2I8 includes a framework indicated in its entirety by the reference numeral 21! and a plurality of cross frame structures 212, 213 and 214, all supported from a main transverse bar 215 which at one end is connected to the left main longitudinal frame member 8, as best shown in Figure l and which at its other a and extends laterally outwardly beyond the right hand main frame member 1. As best shown in Figure 3, the cross bar 215 is connected to the main frame member 1 by a vertical strut 218 and ahorizontal member 219.

The cross frame structure 212 includes an outer strut 28I, a lower channel 282, the inner end of which is fixed in any suitable way to'the main cross member 215. The lower end of the vertical member 218 is connected by a diagonal brace member 283 to the outer end of the, strut 282, as best shown in Figure 2. A member 284 extends upwardly from the main frame member 215 and at its upper end is connected to an upper cross member which is made up of two angularly related sections comprising spaced apart portions 288 and 281 connected together by connecting webs 288. Each of the frame structures 212, 213 and 214 is similar to that :Iust described.

Referring to-the cross frame structure 213 of the cleaning unit, there is no diagonal member 7 233, but instead the plate 234 is connected. as by welding or the like, to the diagonal brace 223. The outer cross frame structure 214. which is disposed laterally outwardly of the diagonal brace 223, is reenforced by a rod 23l that at its outer end is connected to the frame portion 233 of the cross frame structure 214, the upper end of the rod 23l being connected to the frame arch 3. A frame member 232 extends from the frame structure 212 laterally outwardly to the frame structure 214. An auxiliary frame member 233 extends from the inner fame structure 212 to another cross frame structure 233 which is carried by the main cross member 213 in a position well toward the left side of the machine, as best shown Fl re 1. Th e mechanism of the cleaning unit 213 includes two driven endless chain units "I and 332 operating in conjunction with a stationary chain section 303 and a spiking section 334. The endless chains and 332 may be similar to or substantially the same as the elevator and conveyor chains described above, commonly known as potato chain. As best shown in Figure 2, the cleaning chain 302 is supported in a generally vertical position, being slightly inclined forwardly along its upper edge. The chain 302 is supported in that position by upper and lower sprockets around which the chain is trained, the sprockets being fixed to shafts 333 journaled in bearings 331 carried by the right-hand cross frame structure 214 and the associated lower channel 232. Preferably, the lower bearing is supported by the channel 232 through a bracket 303. The support for the other end of the chain 332 is of. similar construction, the upper bearing for the left-hand shaft 333 being carried by the cross frame structure 212 and the lower bezairzing being supported b the associated channel The stationary length of potato chain 333 is disposed in a generally vertical plane, inclined rearwardly, however, to about the same extent that the plane of the chain 332 is inclined forwardly. The stationary chain 333 is fastened at its outer end to the right-hand cross frame structure 214 and at its inner end to a bar 3| l. The latter is connected at its upper end through an angle 3l2 that extends laterally outwardly to the cross frame structure 214, and at its lower end the bar 3 is connected to a channel 3 which is carried by the main cross frame member 213. Immediately inwardly of the stationary chain 303 is the endless chain 30!. This chain is supported by sprockets M3 and 3l3 supported on shafts carried by the cross frame structures 212 and 213. The plane of the chain 30l is disposed enerally vertically, being inclined rearwardly like the plane of the chain 333.

Operating within the front chain 302 is a spiking chain 32 I. This chain incldes an endless element 322 carrying spikes 323 and trained over idler sprockets 324 mounted on the left hand shaft 303. Suitable guiding structure is provided for the spiking chain, and the latter is trained over driving sprockets 329 supported on an auxiliary shaft 331 and driven .by a chain 332 from a sprocket on the outer shaft 306. The supporting and guiding structure for the spiking chain and "I, parallel with respect to the chain 332 and are disposed close to the path of travel of the latter so that the spikes 323 project an appreciable distance outwardly beyond the links of the chain 302. This forms what might betermed a separating zone, inasmuch as the splkes'impale beets thereon but if any clods are present the spikes break up the clods by cracking or fracturing them. Beyond the separating zone the bars 333 are shaped to form a stripping zone, during which the spikes 323 are gradually withdrawn to points within the chain 302. This causes the beets to be stripped from the spikes 323.

The mechanism for driving the chains 301, 332 and 32l will now be described. As .best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the shaft 243 is extended rearwardly and is supported by suitable bearing means 341 on the outer cross frame structure 214. The shaft 243 carries a bevel gear 342 which meshes with a companion gear 343 carried at the upper end of the laterally outer shaft 303. The gears 342 and 343 thus drive the chain 302. As described above, the chain 332 drives the spiking chain 32l from the outer shaft 303. A sprocket 343 is fixed to the rear end of the shaft 243 and receives a sprocket chain 343 which extends laterally inwardly and is trained over a sprocket 341 fixed to a shaft 343 that is supported on the cross frame structure 213. Through a set of bevel gearssimilar to the gears 342, 343 described above, the shaft 343 drives the chain 301.

The loading elevator 2 includes a swingable section 331 and a hopper section 332, as best shown in Figure 3. The hopper section 332 comprises a generally circular hopper 333 and bearing means 334 upon which the swingable elevator section 33! is pivotally mounted. The hopper 333 is supported for movement about a generally vertical axis upon suitable bearings 333 carried by the rear frame extensions 2". coincidental with the axis of swinging movement of the hopper 332 is a drive shaft 331 carrying a bevel gear 333 that meshes with a pinion 333, fixed to the outer end of a shaft 3", the inner end or forward end of which carries a sprocket receiving a drive chain 332 that is trained at its upper end over a sprocket carried by the shaft 232 (Figure 2). The bevel gear 333, which may be loosely mounted on the shaft 331, serves to drive a third bevel gear 333 fixed to a short shaft 331 to the outer end of which a sprocket receiving a chain 333 is fixed. The chain 333 serves to drive a sprocket 333 that is flxedto a shaft 31! which drives the chain 312 of the elevator 33! in the usual manner.

The outer or swinging end of the loading elevator 2 is supported by an adjustable cable mechanism 313 which will now be described. Extending convergingly rearwardly from the frame arch 213 is a pair of bars 313 disposed in a generally horizontal plane and reenforced by a pair of braces 311. The rear ends of the bars 313 are connected together and form a pivotal support for a horizontally swingable arm 313 which carries manually adjustable winch structure 38f. Cables 333 are connected to the outer end of the loading elevator 2| I, as best shown in Figure 3, and to the winch structure 3". The latter includes an adjusting wheel 334 and a manually controlled latch 333 therefor, whereby releasing the latch 335 and turning the wheel 334 in one direction or the other serves to raise or lower the outer end of the loading elevator 2. The cables 333 pass over sheaves 333 carried at the outer end of the swinging am 313. Formed as a part of the latter is an arcuate sector 333 which passes through latch means 333 carried by a hand-operated lever 33i which is swingable about the axis of bearing of the arm 319 in the supporting structure 318 therefor. The lever 33! extends to a point adjacent the operators station' 25 on the machine and the lever maybe moved back and forth, with proper actuation of the latching mechanism 333, to swing the arm 319 and the outer end of the loading elevator 2| I into any position desired, from one side of the machine around to the other side. This movement takes place about a vertical axis that coincides with the axis of swinging of the hopper 352 on its supporting framework 2" and associated parts.

As best shown in Figure 1, the chain 3M terminates at or adjacent the end of the separating zone so that there is an open space S at the end of the chain 3M and between the latter and the hopper 353. Downwardly through this space fall any clods that do not fall downwardly through the chains 301 and 302, but the beets are still held on the spikes 323 until they reach a point over the hopper 353. Then they are stripped from the spikes and allowed to fall directly into the hopper 353 from whence they are elevated into a loading container by the operation of the loading .chain 312,

scribed is substantially as follows.

The operation of the machine as so far de- The beets in two rows are topped by the knives 13 and the tops removed by the stripping drums 38 and transferred onto the top conveyor 55. The topped beets from the two rows are then loosened and lifted by the shoes i8i and moved by the conveyors 20! and 202 onto the lower receiving end of the cross conveyor 231. The beets, together with any clods that may pass over with the beets, are then shifted laterally outwardly and upwardly into a hopper 390 from whence the beets and clods are directed into the space between the chain 302 and the stationary chain 303. The chain 302 is driven, by the mechanism described above, and the function of the stationary chain is, cooperating with the moving chain 302, to roll .the beets and agitate them so as to remove all adhering soil and break up any large clods that may possibly be present. The beets are thus moved by the moving chain 302 into the separating zone, which is defined by the two chains 3M and 302. These chains are driven at the same peripheral speed and during the progress of the chains the spikes 323 are projected laterally outwardly so as to impale thereon all of the beets in this zone. The clods do not become impaled on the points but are either cracked or entirely disintegrated by the action of the points. Most of the broken clods thus fall downwardly between the links of the chain, but any clods that are still too large to fall between the links of the chains are carried by the movement of the chains over to the space S from which they fall directly to the ground. However, the beets are all impaled on the points 323 and, as mentioned above, remain on the chain 302 until they are stripped therefrom and are deposited in the hopper 353.

Under favorable conditions, clods and objectionable quantities of adhering soil may not be present, in which case it may not be necessary to run the beets through the cleaning unit 2i0. In order to provide for running the beets directly from the conveyors 2M and 202 into the hopper 353,'thus saving the wear and tear on the cleaning unit and likewise realizing a saving in the power required, we have provided an arrangementby 40! which includes cables 402 trained over sheaves or the like, as at 403, and connected at the lower end to the bail 242 at the left end of the elevator 231. A latch 405 serves to hold the upper end of the conveyor 231 in either its upper or its 1 lower'position. When the receiving end of the conveyor 231 is raised into a position so that the beets from the conveyors 20l and 202 do not fall into it, a chute 4l0 (Figure 2), which is pivoted at 4 on the main frame, is automatically brought up into a position to direct the beets directly from the discharge ends of the conveyors 2M and 202 into the hopper 353. The chute 0 is pivoted directly underneath the discharge ends of the conveyors 2M and 202 and has its outer end connected by a chain 412 to the swinging end of the conveyor 231, so that when the latter is raised up into its inoperative position, the chute 4) is automatically swung up into its operative position, the chute 0 being shown in its inoperative position in Figure 2.

The top conveyor 55 and the loading elevator 2i i may be disposed at either side of the machine, according to requirements of the particular field being harvested. Generally, it is desired to windrow the tops, that is, deposit into one row the tops from a plurality of rows being harvested, and it is, of course, necessary to run the trucks or wagons that receive the beets from the load-- ing elevator 2 over portions of the field that either had been harvested or are sufficiently clear to accommodate the passage of the vehicles. The swingable mounting of the loading elevator 2H and the shiftable mounting of the top conveyor 55 easily and readily accommodates placing the tops and he rucks or wagons wherever necessary without interfering with the operation of the machine. As best shown in Figure 1, the cleaning unit H0 and the conveyor unit 231 extend laterally outwardly at the right side of the machine, and the motor l2 and associated parts, mounted on the left side of the machine, counterbalance the weight of the laterally outer portions of the units 2) and 231, and also the loading elevator 2| I, in case the latter is swung over toward the right of the machine. It is a relatively simple matter for the operator to operate the winch 401 to raise and lower the cross conveyor 231 according to whether or not it is desired to run the beets through the cleaning unit 2l0. Preferably a clutch 450 is mounted on the shaft 246 (Figure 2) and is connected by a link 5| to some part of the vertically swingable conveyor 231, the parts being sq arranged that when the left end of the conveyor 231 is raised into its inoperative position, the link 45| serves to automatically disengage the clutch 450 and thus prevent thedrive being transmitted to the cleaning chains.

While we have shown and described above the preferred structure in which the principles of the present invention have been incorporated, it is to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the particular details shown and described above, but that, in fact, widely different means may be employed in the practice of the broader aspects of our invention.

What we claim, therefore, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a beet harvester, a frame, an elevator at the rear end of the frame, a clod separator unit positioned on the frame to discharge beets into 7 said elevator, conveying means positioned on said frame, means'on the frame and movable into and out of operative position for delivering beets from said conveying means to said clod separator unit, and means mounted on said frame and movable relative thereto,.when said beet-delivering means is in its inoperative position, into a position for by-passing said clod separator unit and delivering beets from said conveying means directly to said elevator.

2. A beet harvester comprising a mobile frame, beet handling means carried thereby including a generally rearwardly moving conveyor means, a beet elevator connected with the rear portion of said frame and including a beet receiving end disposed adjacent the discharge end of said beet conveyor means, a beet cleaning unit carried by said frame and having a discharge end disposed in a position to deliver beets into the receiving end of said beet elevator, means on said frame adjacent the rear of said conveyor means for receiving beets from said conveyor means and delivering them into the receiving end of said cleaning unit, and means on said frame and extending generally between the rear of said conveyor means and said beet elevator for by-passing said cleaning unit and directing beets from said conveyor means into the receiving end of said beet elevator.

3. A beet harvester comprising a mobile frame,

beet handling mechanism including a first beet conveyor, a beet elevator having its receiving end disposed generally below the discharge end of first beet conveyor so as to receive beets therefrom, a beet cleaning unit having its discharge end disposed generally above the receiving end of said elevator and its beet receiving end spaced from the discharge end of said first beet conveyor, a second beet conveyor having a receiving end disposed in a position adjacent the discharge end of said first beet conveyor so as to receive beets therefrom and its discharge end disposed above and adjacent the receiving end of said beet cleaning unit, means shiftably mounting said second beet conveyor on said frame and accommodating movement of the receiving end of said second beet conveyor from a position below said first beet conveyor means to a position above the latter, and means operative when the second beet conveyor is in said latter position for delivering beets directly from the discharge end of said first beet conveyor means to the receiving end of said beet elevator.

4. The invention set forth in claim 3, further characterized by said last mentioned means comprising a chute swingably mounted on said frame, and means connecting said chute with the receiving end of said second beet conveyor whereby when the latter is swung into its elevated position, said chute is swung upwardly into a position to transfer the beets directly from the discharge end of said first beet conveyor to the receiving end of said beet elevator.

5. In a beet harvester, a frame, a discharge elevator carried thereby, a beet cleaning mechanism carried by the frame in a position to discharge into said elevator, beet conveying means having I a discharge end adjacent said cleaning mechanism and said elevator, and a conveyor movably mounted on said frame and shiftable from one position out of operative relation with respect to said beet conveying means into a position for 12 diverting beets from said beet conveying means into said cleaning mechanism.

6. In a beet harvester, a mobile frame, beet handling mechanism including conveyor means, a beet discharge elevator supported on said frame and having a receiving end disposed adjacent the discharge end of said conveyor means, a beet cleaning unit mounted on said frame, a conveyor movably mounted on said frame and having a discharge end adapted to discharge beets into said cleaning unit and a beet receiving end swingable from a position below said first mentioned conveyor means into an inoperative position above said coveyor means, and a part movably carried by said frame and operatively connected with said beet conveyor so as to be swung by upward movement of the latter from an inoperative position into an operative position for conveying beets directly from said first mentioned conveyor means into said beet discharge elevator.

7. In combination, a first conveyor, a final-conveyor, an intermediate conveyor arranged with its discharge end disposed above the receiving portion of said final conveyor and its receiving end normally under the discharge and of said first conveyor but swingable upwardly into a nonreceiving position relative thereto, and a part operatively connected with the swingable portion of said intermediate conveyor so as to be swung by upward movement of the latter from an inoperative position into an operative position for conveying material directly from said first beet discharge elevator, a beet cleaning unit comprising a frame, a pair of endless beet engaging chains disposed in generally upwardly extending diverging planes, one end of .one chain being disposed above the receiving end of said beet elevator,means associated with said endless chain for cleaning adhering soil and the like from the beets, means also associated with said endless chain for impaling beets and holding them on said chain, the receiving end of said beet elevator being carried by said harvester in a position spaced from the adjacent end of the other chain so that clods and other material will fall from said other endless chain before reaching the receiving end of said beet elevator, and means associated with said impaling means for stripping beets from said impaling means at a point generally above the receiving end of said elevator so that the beets fall from said cleaning unit into the beet elevator.

9. In a beet harvester comprising a mobile frame and beet lifting tool means carried thereby, an upwardly and rearwardly extending elevator receiving beets from the lifting means and conveying them upwardly and rearwardly, a beet cleaning unit carried on the rear portion of said frame in a position to receive beets from said elevator, said cleaning unit comprising a pair of endless chains having beet-engaging flights disposed respectively in planes making an acute angle with a vertical plane and thus disposed in upwardly diverging relation to receive beets therebetween so that the beets by virtue of their weight tend to move downwardly to the lower and more closely spaced portions of said flights, said pair of cleaning chains being disposed transversely of the harvester frame and having their receiving ends disposed laterally outwardly and their discharge ends laterally inwardly substantially to the central portion of said frame, and

13 a beet elevator mounted on the rear end of said frame generally centrally thereof and disposed in a position to receive beets from the laterally inner end of said transverse cleaning chains.

10. In a beet harvester, a mobile frame, beet handling mechanism including conveyor means, a beet elevator supported on said frame and having a receiving end disposed generally below the dis-- charge end of said conveyor means so as to receive beets therefrom, a beet cleaning unit mounted on said frame and having its discharge end disposed generally above the receiving end of said beet elevator so as to deliver beets thereto, a conveyor having a discharge end adapted to deliver material to the receiving end of said beet cleaning unit and a receiving end adapted to receive beets from said conveyor means, the receiving end of said conveyor being shiitable out of position relative to said conveyor means, and means movably mounted on said frame and shiftable into a position for receiving beets from said conveyor means and directing them directly to said beet elevator.

11. A beet harvester comprising a mobile support, beet lifting and conveying mechanism mounted thereon, a beet elevator also mounted on said support in a position to discharge beets from the harvester, a clod removing unit on said support and having means to carry beets to said elevator, and conveyor means movably mounted on said support and adapted in one position to receive beets from said mechanism and to discharge them into said elevator, by-passing said unit.

12. In a two-row harvester for sugar beets and the like, comprising a frame and a pair of beet pulling and topping units carried thereby, a pair of beet conveyors carried by said frame and extending longitudinally thereof rearwardly of said units and adapted to receive beets therefrom, an

elevator swingably connected to the rear end of said frame for movement relative thereto about a generally vertical axis substantially midway between said beet conveyors and having its outer end swingabie from one side of said frame to the other, and mechanism carried by the frame in a position thereon between the rear ends of said pair of conveyors and the receiving end of said elevator for conveying beets from both of said conveyors to said elevator.

VIRGIL F. BOZEMAN, SR.

CLAUDE W. WALZ.

ROBERT D. GRIFF.

HOWARD F. CLAUSEN.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED sTATEs PATENTS Number Name Date 913,421 McCormick Feb. 23, 1909 1,026,835 Smith May 21, 1912 1,090,231 Richard Mar. 17, 1914 1,091,823 Fowler Mar. 31, 1914 1,127,537 Starkey Feb. 9, 1915 1,140,202 Smith May 18, 1915 1,153,381 Gudmundsen Sept. 14, 1915 1,234,363 Mahoney July 24, 1917 1,309,940 Hannum July 15, 1919 1,336,297 Jones Apr. 6, 1920 1,336,313 Nelson Apr. 6, 1920 1,694,617 Gudmundsen Dec. 11, 1928 1,714,889 Raoult May 28, 1929 1,715,823 Dick June 4, 1929 1,748,746 Zuckerman Feb. 25, 1930 1,761,286 Zuckerman June 3, 1930 1,781,919 Eversman Nov. 18, 1930 1,964,896 Urschel July 3, 1934 2,161,073 Mehl June 6, 1939 2,191,322 Matthews Feb. 20, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 403,018 Germany Sept. 27, 1924 OTHER REFERENCES Rock Products, vol. 41, pp. 35-37, Dec. 1938. 

